USA

ByCompiled from wire service reports by Ross AtkinJune 5, 2006

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld became only the second Pentagon boss to visit Vietnam since the end of hostilities in 1975. He arrived Sunday seeking to enhance security cooperation. He denied suggestions that use of military facilities by US troops is a talking point at this time.

Without giving a timeline, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on "Fox News Sunday" that Iran has weeks, not months to accept incentives offered by the West to halt its nuclear-fuel program.

Fedex Ground, a division of shipping giant FedEx Corp., said it plans to appeal a $61 million jury award to two of their truck drivers in a harassment lawsuit.

Insurance Co. said it is dropping earthquake insurance to most of its 407,000 quake customers. Existing policies will be valid until they lapse, and Allstate, which lost $1.55 billion in last year's third quarter largely because of hurricane Katrina, is working with regulators to find options in states where insurers must offer earthquake coverage.

As early as Monday, 55 members of the Utah National Guard will become the first troops to participate in President Bush's plan to have up to 6,000 troops help securethe US-Mexico border. The Utah troops, who've long done border projects, arrived Saturday in Yuma, Ariz., to assume nonpolicing duties.

A US district court judge in Iowa ruled that a Bible-based prison program "impermissibly endorses religion" in a lawsuit filed by the Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The Prison Fellowship Ministries, which is contracted to operate the program, must repay the state $1.53 million for using prisoner perks in promoting Christianity.